10.02.2001 Town Council Minutes (Special)Special City Council Meeting
City Hall -109 S. Main Street
Tuesday, October 2, 2001, 7:00 p.m.
nIg5g PrepZnt: Jim Dunmire, Charles Niswanger, Darin Riggs, Jeff Walker, Janet Phillips and Michael Perry
AIV Lo arCL Aj: Mayor Dunmire called the meeting to order.
Workstroo with John Flarris ru DDevelol ment on SH289: John Harris, Charles Hodges, Tom Clark, David Davidson,
Mr. Camp and several other gentlemen presented Council with the backbone of the master plan to be used for a
town center.
The Hodges Group has been involved in 32 million feet of retail and 385 projects in 31 states. Their projects include
the Center at Prestonridge in Frisco (everything north of Stonebriar Mall), the Arboretum in Austin, Westbank
Market, Hedner Fashion Center in San Antonio, Inwood Village, and many more.
The Hodges Group focuses on the architecture and master plan, and Mr. Camp's group will do the development.
Mr. Hodges requested that the work session focus on "site design" rather than the "site plan".
The proposal is for a mixed-use plan with spine roads and emphasis on the traffic patterns. It will incorporate a 4
component campus, including: Industrial/Warehouse, Retail, Transitional Retail (real estate, health care, insurance
agencies, etc.), and the Municipal Campus. Restaurants and banks will be located on pad sites along Preston Rd.
The proposal also includes a strong East/West access, which will be an extension of Broadway. The focus is to be
toward the uphill positioning of the City Hall building at the crown of the hill. By gathering the Municipal Facilities in
the middle, it will allow the sharing of parking because the majority of peak activity is rotating. According to Mr.
Hodges, this will allow us to get more bang for our buck with the infrastructure. The parking is also in an area that
may be blocked off for special functions without interfering with the surrounding businesses.
The anchor of the entire project will be a grocery store because it is realistic, appropriate and the most frequented
type of anchor store. Regarding frequency in visits, restaurants are number one and grocery stores are number
two.
The Council expressed concern for the Industrial/ Warehouse portion of the plan. Michael Perry feels this would
cheapen the project; and Janet Phillips recommended that by removing the word "industrial", it might give the
Council a better feeling about this area of the project. Janet also asked Hodges to keep in mind that this area would
back up to CR77, which is a residential area. She also mentioned the more trees in the project the better, in an
attempt to preserve Prosper's country feel. Charles Niswanger explained how this area might also be used as a
medical facility.
Hodges explained this area could possibly be showrooms or offices in the front of the buildings with cabinet shops,
etc. in the rear.' He also mentioned the possible use of the Industrial/Warehouse area as a gymnastics center. The
emphasis of this area should be on reality and actually thinking about what drives the market. The key is flexibility.
The average height of the buildings will be 26' to 30'. The stores will all be 1 -story because 2 -story retail has a
history of being unsuccessful. They plan to give the 1 -story buildings a fagade that creates the look of 1-1/2 stories.
City Hall will have a sculptural roof, which Mr. Hodges explained was very important. The City Hall should have a
very distinct look that is visible for a great distance.
Jeff Walker feels that the City is getting ahead of itself because the Mesa Group has not completed the City's Master
Plan. He also asked the expected timeline for the project.
Hodges explained that if they started today, it would take at least 18 months to 2 years to complete. As far as
phases and timing, Mr. Camp explained it would most likely begin with the extension of Broadway, -followed by the
completion of the I" road running north and south, and continue moving in the direction towards City Hall. City Hall
will have a core building wide 3 wings, enabling them to begin with a core and build out as needed.
Mr. Walker also questioned the road issues that will be created by such a development..
Hodges explained that extending Broadway across Preston would require a red light. There will also be 4 additional
roads that turn out onto Preston from the development. Hedges explained that having this type of development
would eliminate much of the incidental trip generation. Residents will be able to stop in here to go shopping or out
to eat, which will lessen the impact on Preston that is now created by people going to Frisco and McKinney for these
type of outings.
Michael Perry feels this project is outstanding but wanted to note that we only have one opportunity to do it right.
Mealso mentioned that hewould like nosee aCity Park.
HmdgeorecommendedthatMheCound|kepp|nm|ndthe^CVsneyPhnciplo'',whichmeansm|xingasfewcarsand
children as possible. In keeping this in mind, it is hard to justify a City Park in this area.
The Council asked how they could partner with Hodges, John Harris and Mr. Camp on the City Buildings. The
Municipal Code has provisions, including 374 and 380C, which allows the City several ways to finance the buildings.
Possibilities include abuy back plan, lease and build tosuit. Hodges also gave the Council atip byrecommending
an RDA (Retail Development Agreement), in which the City rebates 50% of the Sales Tax Revenue for 10 years to
pay the developer back for building the infrastructure fbrUhemunicipa|hui|dingo.
The Council invited John Harris and the Hodges group back for another work session on October 23, 2001.
No action taken.
Adjourn.
r
Jim, Dunmire, Mayor
Amber Phil li ps,Vi�ty�- ISecretary
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